Hinge structure



Nov. wzx. 1,4733% 8. HAMMER HINGE STRUCTURE Filed July 2'7. 1921 Arromvev Patented Nov. 55, 1923.

UNETED STATFL v sarrunr PATENT FFHQE.

HAMMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO UNITED METAL BOX 00., INC.,

LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW] YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' EINGE STRUCTURE.

Application filed m 27, 1e21. Serial no. 488,036.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be .it known that 1', SAMUEL HAMMER,

-useful Improvements in Hinge Structures,

' of which the following is a specification.

lit?

This invention relates to hinge structures and has for its primary object to provide an improved hinge construction primarily designed for use in connection with switch boxes and the like for hinging the cover at one of its ends upon the body of the box so as to obviate the possibility of unauthorized persons attaining access to the interior of the box by detaching the cover at the hinges.

More particularly, my present improvement comprehends a hinge of simple and durable construction wherein the hinge pintles onthe box cover are securely locked in the sockets on the box wall by a section of the wall itself, said wall section being covered and concealed by one of the margi nal flanges on the cover when the latter is closed, thus precluding the possibility of displacement of the said wall section by the engagement of a tool or implement there-' with.

In one construction of the improved hinge, one wall of-the box is providedwith spaced sections integral at one of their ends with the box wall and adapted to be forced out of the plane of said wall, said sections at their other ends having lateral extensions, the box wall being further provided with outwardly ressed portions at opposite sides of each of said bendable sections to form sockets.

I The box cover is provided at one end with spaced pairs of hinge pintles adapted for engagement through the openings in the box wall and movable along the inner sides of the wall into the sockets formed by theoutwardly pressed portions of the wall. Upon then returning the bendable wall sections to their normal positions in the plane of the box wall, the hinge pintles are securely held or retained within the sockets while permitting of their free pivotal movement. The wall of the box cover, when the latter is closed, overlies the bendable sections of the box wall so that they cannot be displaced from their locking positions and the hinge pintles removed from the sockets. A. hinge construction of this character may be readily produced in a few simple mechanical operations and therefore particularly lends itself for use in connection with switch or fuse boxes, though obviously the present invention might also be advantageously employed for various other purposes.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the improved form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated inzthe accompanying drawing, and subsequently incorpo rated in the subjoinedclaims.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated one desirable and practical embodiment'of the invention and in which similar reference.

characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views;

Fig. l is a top plan view of a switch box with the cover in its closed position and showing my new hinge construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View partly in section, with the cover in its full open position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through the hinge showing the initial rela-v tive position of the parts in connecting the cover to the box wall.

Fig. at is a similar section showing the completed connection and the cover in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hinge parts on the box wall and the cover. I

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a fragment of the box wall showing the locking section. thereof pressed out of the plane of said wall.

Referring in detail to then drawingyin which I have illustrated a conventional type of switch box, which is of the usual sheet metal construction, 5 designates the body of the box, the walls of which may be provided with any desired number of separable discs or cutouts 6, through which the current conducting wires may be led. to the in terior of the box.

The box cover 7 is provided with the usual marginal flanges indicated at 8 along each of its end and side edges, said flanges, when the box cover is closed, extending exteriorly upon the corresponding body walls of the box.

I have herein illustrated the box cover as being hingedly connected to the top. wall of the box body. This, however, is not essential as the cover might as well be hinged to the bottom wallor either of the side walls of thebox. 'x'

As shown, the top wall 9 of the box in spaced relation to eachof its side edges and adjacentxto theropen side of the :box, is cut to provide bendable sections 10. These sec- 'tions are of general T-shape iormand at one of their ends remain inte "rally connected with the wall 9. At th'eirfotherlends, each of the sections 10 has oppositely extending lateral projections 11.; At each side of each 'of the sections 10 at the'end thereof which is connectedto the body wall of the "box, said wall ispressed or forced outwardly as at 12 to provide inwardly opening sockets 13. The parts'12 at their outer ends are integral with the wall ofthe box to close said sends ofthe sockets13, the inner ends of which are-f open.

, Oneof the endflanges 7 of the box cover is provided With spaced lugs or extensions.

l i each of which is formed on itsflopposite side edgeswith the laterally projecting pintles 1'5. i I t D In connecting the box cover to the wall of the-box body 5,th'e.sections 10 of said wall arefirst forced inwardly under pressure out I [of ftheplane of said wall into an angular p position with respect thereto as clearly seen" "1'5on the cover flange 7 may now be passed in Fig. 3 of the drawing; The hinge pintles through lateral extensions 17 at the outer end of the opening 16 which is thus producedfby the displacement of each'of the wall sections 10. The cover is then shifted,

' the pint-les 1'5 moving'along the inner side that they might be forced inwardly or disof the box wall until said pintles are seated in the sockets 13. The wall sections 10 are then returned to their former positions in the plane of the box wall 9 so that they completely close the openings 16 and .the extensions 17 thereof. When the box cover is in itsclosedposition as shown in Fig. 4:, it will be noted thatthe lugs 14 and the cover flange '7 overlie the respective bendable sections 10 ,of the box walland coli'ipletelycover the same. Thus when the box cover is locked in its closed position, a tool or implement cannot beengaged with the wall sections 10 so placed fromthe plane o'fithe wall to a suflicient extent in order to permit of the removal ofthe hingepintles from the sockets "'13 and the detachment of the cover from the body wall of the box. It'is further to be noted that this hinge construction practically eliminates openings or crevices ofa'ny appreciable size through which dust and dirt might find its way into the interior of the box. At the same time, however, this j construction provides for a free and easy swinging movement of "the cover upon the vbOX Wall whenever it is necessary readj the switch parts or make repairs. I From the foregoing'descri tion considered of the improved hinge will be clearly underin connection with the accompanyingdrawing, the construction and several advantages stood. Theseveral hinge parts can be readily produced in the desired form by very simple mechanical operations so that the nianufacturing cost of the boxas a whole will not be materially increased. Thus in the present instance I have succeeded in combining simplicity of structure with extreme strength and durability and have also provided means which willjprevent the undetectedopening of the sw itch box by the disconnection of the cover from theboxbody I at the hinges thereof. v

' As. allfpart's of the hinge are integral'with "the cover and body of the box and no separate or additional elements are employed, it

will be apparent that a hinge of this construction will not be likely to get out of order or require repairs.

V I have "herein shown a construction which I have found to "be very practical and highly satisfactory in use, but it will be understood thatthe device is susceptible to certain parts having ,a lug provided with hinge pintles, the-other of said parts including a wall having a slot c-ut therein'through which said tongue and pintles are adapted to be inserted, said wall being provided atone end amnesia-tat its opposite edges with seats to receive said pintles, and. means :adapted to be positioned in said slot andlo-- 'cated. wholly in the plane of said wall'to completely close the slot and retain the pintles in said seats. I r

2. In a hinge structure, co-mplemental parts to be 'hingedly connected, oneof said parts having a lug provided with hinge pintles, the other of said parts including a wall having a slot cut therein through'which said tongue and pintles are adapted to be inserted, said'wall being provided at one end ,ofthe slot at its opposite edges with seats to receive said pintles, and a'bendable' closure projecting fromsaid wall at the latter end of the slot and adapted to be bent with respect to said'wall and positioned within said slot whollyin the plane of'the wall'to completely close the slot the pin'tles in said s'eatsfl 3. In hinge structure, complemental parts to be hingedly connectedQone oit'said parts having a lug provided with hinge pintle s'fth'e other of said'parts "includinga wall having a to'nguestruck therefrom "and inand' retain tegral at one of its ends with said wall to thereby provide a slot through Which said tongue and pintles are adapted to be inserted, said Wall being further provided at opposite edges of the slot and adjacent the connection of the tongue to said Wall with seats to receive said pintles', said tongue adapted to be bent and positioned in said slot Wholly in the plane of said well to completely close the slot and retain the pintles W in said seats.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, and I have signed my name hereunder.

SAMUEL HAMIMEB. 

